Tintin 1/24 Model Car 29906 – La Jeep Rouge – Tintin au Pays de l’Or Noir – First Edition

Author: Hergé & Editions Moulinsart
Manufacturer: Editions Moulinsart / Tintinimaginatio
Format: 1/24 scale model vehicle on display plinth with illustrated diorama and clear acetate case
Condition: Brand new and unopened. The model, display case and explanatory booklet remain in their original presentation packaging.

Description

From the official Les Voitures de Tintin collection, this substantial 1/24 scale model of La Jeep Rouge, reference 29906, recreates the red Jeep from Hergé’s Tintin au pays de l’or noir (Land of Black Gold).

The model depicts Thomson and Thompson travelling through the desert in the open red Jeep, accompanied by their luggage and equipment. It is presented on its original display plinth beneath a clear acetate case, against a monochrome desert landscape derived from Hergé’s artwork.

Produced by Editions Moulinsart as number 6 in the 1/24 scale Tintin vehicle collection, reference 29906 represents a Willys-type Jeep, the compact four-wheel-drive vehicle whose distinctive outline became one of the most recognisable pieces of twentieth-century automotive design.

Its rugged appearance makes a particularly effective contrast with Thomson and Thompson. The detectives retain their characteristic black suits, bowler hats and formal demeanour even while travelling through demanding desert terrain, giving the scene the unmistakable visual humour associated with the pair.

The Jeep belongs to the Middle Eastern section of Tintin au pays de l’or noir, an adventure in which oil supplies, motor vehicles and mechanical sabotage are fundamental to the plot.

The model was issued complete with its illustrated display setting, clear protective case, explanatory booklet and outer cardboard packaging.

This example is brand new and unopened. The model and accompanying explanatory booklet remain in their original presentation packaging, making this an especially attractive example for the collector seeking an unused specimen of this early reference in the 71-model series.

Reference: 29906
Scale: 1/24
Model: La Jeep Rouge
Album: Tintin au pays de l’or noir
Vehicle: Willys-type Jeep
Colour: Red
Material: Resin, metal and plastic
Presentation: Display plinth with illustrated diorama and clear acetate case
Packaging: Original grey and white outer box
Documentation: Original explanatory booklet
Condition: Brand new and unopened
EAN: 2990600000006

La Jeep Rouge: A Brief Account

The red Jeep appears during the desert sequences of Tintin au pays de l’or noir, with Thomson and Thompson once again becoming involved in events they only partially understand.

The two detectives are among Hergé’s principal sources of recurring humour. Their apparent confidence and official bearing repeatedly contrast with their confusion, faulty deductions and extraordinary ability to become involved in mishaps.

Placing them in an open Jeep in the desert makes particularly effective use of that contrast. The vehicle suggests military efficiency and rugged practicality, while its passengers remain unmistakably Thomson and Thompson.

The model translates the scene successfully into three dimensions, preserving both the recognisable mechanical character of the Jeep and the comedy of its occupants.

The Willys Jeep

The Willys Jeep originated as a light military vehicle and became one of the defining machines of the Second World War.

Compact dimensions, four-wheel drive and simple construction allowed it to operate over difficult terrain while carrying personnel and equipment.

After the war, the Jeep remained internationally familiar and influenced generations of civilian four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Its design is exceptionally well suited to Hergé’s clear graphic vocabulary. The upright windscreen, exposed wheels, open body and short bonnet can be rendered economically while remaining instantly identifiable.

The larger 1/24 scale gives the Moulinsart model sufficient size for the mechanical features, passenger figures and luggage to be reproduced with considerable visual presence.

Tintin au Pays de l’Or Noir: A Brief Account

Tintin au pays de l’or noir is one of the Tintin adventures most closely associated with motor vehicles and fuel.

The story begins when engines mysteriously begin exploding because of contaminated petrol. The implications rapidly become international, and Tintin’s investigation takes him to the Middle East.

There he becomes involved in the political tensions of the fictional state of Khemed, the activities of Dr Müller and the strategic importance of petroleum.

The album was begun before the Second World War, interrupted in 1940 and subsequently completed and revised after the conflict. Its unusual production history reflects the rapidly changing political world in which Hergé was working.

Thomson and Thompson

Thomson and Thompson provide an important counterweight to the more serious elements of the story.

Their dialogue, appearance and behaviour repeatedly puncture moments of tension without requiring Hergé to abandon the larger narrative.

The pair are especially effective when associated with vehicles. Their cars and other forms of transport frequently become extensions of their physical comedy.

The red Jeep is an excellent example: a machine designed for efficiency and difficult terrain becomes the setting for another unmistakably comic Thomson and Thompson episode.

Hergé, Vehicles and Ligne Claire

One of the defining features of Hergé’s mature work is the convincing relationship between his stylised characters and carefully observed machinery.

Cars, aircraft, ships and railway equipment are sufficiently accurate to be recognisable while remaining completely integrated within the ligne claire aesthetic.

The Jeep requires very little visual ornament to establish its identity. Its form is functional, direct and immediately legible — qualities that correspond naturally with Hergé’s graphic language.

The 1/24 vehicle collection extends that principle into three dimensions, combining recognisable vehicles with figures and illustrated settings based upon specific album scenes.

The 1/24 Moulinsart Model

La Jeep Rouge was issued as number 6 in the Les Voitures de Tintin 1/24 collection.

As one of the relatively early references in the complete 71-model series, it forms part of a structured collecting sequence devoted to important vehicles from throughout Hergé’s adventures.

The model is supplied with its original display plinth, illustrated background, clear protective case, explanatory booklet and outer cardboard packaging.

In unopened condition, these elements remain together as originally issued, an important consideration for collectors seeking particularly well-preserved examples.

Why Buy from Us?

At Hornseys, we are committed to offering collectible Tintin models, books and related objects that meet high standards of authenticity, condition and presentation. Every item is handled, inspected and authenticated in-house at our Ripon gallery.

Our Tintin collection is personally curated by Daniel Hornsey, whose interest in Hergé and The Adventures of Tintin extends back to childhood. Individual models are examined for condition, correct accessories, packaging and documentation before being offered for sale.

We wholly own all our stock. Postage is free within the UK, with tracked and insured worldwide shipping available. Every purchase is covered by our 14-day unconditional return guarantee.

Cataloguer: Daniel Hornsey

Daniel Hornsey has specialised in fine and rare books, maps, ephemera, artworks and collectable objects for over thirty years. Hornseys was established in 1976 and continues to research and catalogue its stock individually from its gallery and bookshop in Ripon, North Yorkshire.